Lake Central junior pitcher Maddie Such’s college decision came down to family, in various forms and fashions.
“I’m really close to family,” she said. “I want somewhere I know family and also it feels like family.”
So Such has committed to play at Kentucky. She announced her decision earlier this week.
“I actually have my uncle who lives in Louisville, and then I have my godfather who lives five minutes away from the university,” Such said. “So knowing that I had family there felt nice.
“And also I had a really good relationship with my coaches — or my future coaches. They feel most like family. I like how they come support me at my travel ball games. They ask me about how my high school season went. I just think they would push me to become a better player. Overall, I want to go play in the SEC and battle against the best.”
Such also visited Michigan and Northwestern, where former Lake Central third baseman Kate Renschen is a freshman. She called off another planned visit to UCLA based on the sheer distance.
“This is the best decision,” Such said. “It took so much stress off and countless days where I have to decide what I want to do in school, where I want to go to school. To finally make my decision, it took a lot of that stress off.
“It was very hard going into this, not really knowing anything. It’s Sept. 1, and I’m getting a phone call from like 20 coaches and a bunch of text messages, just blowing up my phone right at midnight on the dot. I’m very thankful for it, but it really was overwhelming. Responding to every single coach, I don’t think I went to bed until 2:30, 3:00 in the morning.”
Such, ranked No. 49 nationally and No. 1 in Indiana in her class by Softball America, said she started to realize she could play at the “highest levels” during 14U ball.
“Growing up, I did not think that I was going to play in college at all,” Such said. “This was a sport just for fun.”
Such hasn’t made things fun for opposing hitters during her career with the Indians. She debuted as a freshman and went 15-1 with a 1.31 ERA,148 strikeouts and 25 walks in 85 1/3 innings. She followed up last season by going 17-3 with a 1.79 ERA, 183 strikeouts and 35 walks in 121 innings.
Lake Central lost 4-2 Crown Point in a Class 4A sectional final in June. The Bulldogs eventually won the state championship behind pitcher Paige Liezert.
Such was gracious about watching the Indians’ rival take the title.
“They deserved it, just understanding their work ethic,” she said. “Paige dominated on the mound. I give her so much credit. She is a stud. Just looking at it from another pitcher’s perspective, that’s what I would’ve wanted. Seeing I have some friends on that team, I was proud of them. Even though they’re our rivals in high school, I’m happy for them.”
Such paused and then added, “I really do hope that’s our position this year. We have a really good team, with Lexi Iwema returning, Tegan Tripp, Madi Wainwright, Kaitlyn Streiler, Sofia Beals. Our senior class is still very strong. We do have another chance to beat Crown Point this year.”
Such also believes she has a chance to make an immediate impact for Kentucky.
“I have a chance of starting as a freshman,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of talks. Playing time is not guaranteed, obviously, and no promises were made. But if I continue to stay on my path of just training, my freshman year, I will get the ball, which is a good feeling.
“It’s just working on my craft, perfecting some stuff I would need going into my freshman year at Kentucky. I have lessons every day of the week except Friday. I’m either working out, conditioning, doing pitching lessons, doing hitting lessons, just loading up as best as I can, while maintaining schoolwork.”
Such is considering her options for her academic focus in college.
“I’m very open-minded with a lot of things I want to study,” she said. “Right now, I want to do something like sports medicine, figuring out if I want to be a physical therapist or not. Another side of me wants to do elementary education because part of me thinks I could be a good teacher.
“It’s kind of up in the air right now. I’m testing out some classes at school, trying everything.”
Including a baking class, mixing in that elective with Advanced Placement, honors and dual-credit classes.
“That’s one of my hobbies,” Such said. “I love baking. I make banana bread, muffins, all of this stuff for my family. Actually taking classes for it in school makes me feel so much better about it at home so I don’t mess up anything.”
Such’s family includes her younger sister Bella, an eighth grader. Such is already envisioning teaming up with her.
“She’s a baller too,” Such said. “She’s going to start the process, emailing coaches, going to camps. Doing it all over again. My poor parents.”
Such is looking forward to having her parents see her pitch for Kentucky.
“I’m very excited about this,” she said. “I made the best decision not only for me, but my family. Knowing it’s only a 4 1/2-hour drive down there, I want them at every home game possible.”